Christmas Decor (Tablescape and Outdoor Lights)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Yes, I am actually posting on my blog on Christmas Eve!!

Since I will be busy the next few days traveling and celebrating with my family, I wanted to share Part 2 of my home Christmas Decor tour. You can find Part 1 of the tour HERE.

Below is my dining room tablescape. Ive had this dinnerware for several years and just LOVE the holly and pine cone theme.

The two-tiered server I have as a centerpiece was a find a few years back at one of our local antique malls (We have several in our area).

It is filled with all kinds of colorful pieces; including pine cones, ornaments, natural  and painted balls, curled reeds, bells, ribbon, and even a few of my seashells.(Just to have a little of my beach theme here, as well.)

 I love the design on my small dessert plates and added a real pine cone and some holly on top of each plate. Underneath these plates, I have my red dinner plates.

 A green placemate holds it all together at each setting. The cloth napkin sits above each plate, wrapped in silver elastic, holding a red or green bell. My red silverware matches perfectly, too! 

 I got these holly and berry goblets at goodwill for a mere $1 a piece!

I love this theme, as it goes nicely as a Christmas setting, but can be used for formal meals throughout the winter season!

 Below, I am sharing a few outside pictures of our Christmas decor.
This wreath hangs on our garage door entrance. That is real snow covering the top...a result of a recent snowstorm.

 Here are a few decorations on our front porch area.

We originally had thought we wouldn't be putting our outside lights up this year, as we have been too busy to put them up. But, just a few nights ago, my hubby surprised me and put a few of our lights up without telling me first. It's amazing how a few Christmas lights can boost one's spirit and put you in a Christmas mood!

 Even my wreath got some sparkle lights!!

 Hoping you all are able to spend some precious time with family and love ones this time of the year!

 Have a very Merry Christmas Day!!

Ann

“Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace” Spanish Proverb

Linking up at these blog hops:

Thursday Favorite Things (Katherine's Corner)      
  Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life  
 All Things Thursday @ Glamorous Affordable Life
 Let's Be Friends Bloghop @ The Dwelling Tree   

Thumping Thursdays @ Mom in the USA   
Cottage Style Linky Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage 
 Simple and Sweet Fridays (Rooted in Thyme)     
Feathered Nest Friday(French Country Cottage) 
  Friendship Friday @ Create With Joy 
  Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home   
Be Inspired @ Common Ground
  Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm    
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life 
 The Clever Chick blog hop @ The Chicken Chick  
Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper  
Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Christmas Decor (My Trees and Other Decor)

Merry Christmas everyone!

 Hope you are all ready for the holidays.

Our tree has been up and decorated for a couple of weeks, but I have been so busy, that I haven't had time to stop and take pictures. I'm also sharing a few other pictures of some Christmas decor around my house. I decided to break it up into two parts...the first are pictures of my 2 trees - one in our living room and the other on the sun porch, as well as some new ornaments and other decor. 

The tree, above, is in our living room. It is a real tree that we cut live at a tree farm a little over a week ago. The special "twinkle" effects in the picture is something I added through Picassa Web Albums. Doesn't it give the tree a pretty look?

Since we don't have a fireplace, the stockings were hung by the "window" with care.(Maybe Santa will see them and come and fill them up Christmas Eve!)

 My theme for the tree this year was mostly beach/nautical. I made several of my own glass balls with glittery sand, seashells, sea glass in them, and stickers on the outside. I also have some blue and silver glitter-covered balls that I added. A few of my wooden ornaments were hung on the tree, as well.

 I purchased a couple of nautical ornaments I found at a local store this year. The pontoon boat, below, was a great reminder to me of the boat we purchased this past summer.

 I grew up riding on my dad's sailboat. Since then, I've always loved sailboats. So this one was perfect for the tree, as well.

More glittery ornaments. The red and tan one on the right was an older ball I was going to throw away. Instead, I took some different colored hemp rope and glued to around the ball, making it have a nautical look.

 I love this picture I took of one of my glass balls... My tree may have a beach theme, but I still love the snow at Christmas!

 I've had this glas ball that has Mary, Joseph, and Jesus inside of it. It plugs into my lights and will glow different colors.

'

Onto my sun porch. My small table top tree dons red lights. To the left of the tree are my glass snowmen.

 

  At the top of the tree, a golden angel blows her trumpet, announcing Christ's birth.

 More angels are found throughout the tree. (I love angels)! I have an extensive collection of seashells and decided to use them on my tree creatively. I googled how to make angel ornaments out of shells came up with some designs below.

Next to the front entrance, I have my fisherman Santa. I just purchased this guy at Meijer this year and just adore him!!

 I added a snow-capped tree with a bird on top to this table-stand vignette. I added a few smaller trees to his side. Looks like he caught a keeper, for sure!!

  On another end of the porch is a table area, holding my Christmas stuffed bunny in a beach chair, a lighted sailboat, and my lighthouse that glows and blinks, all overlooking the lake.

 Back in the living room area, I have another table display.

 I have a couple of different nativity scenes, but this tiny one is my favorite. It was given to me by my mother. I'm pretty sure it is quite old (all, except for the stable, which I purchased.)

I made this light  and decorations inside a glass block last year. I just love how it lights up a room, especially in or near a window!

Well, that's all for now. I have other festive pictures to show you, but you will have to come back and check them out in my next post. I hope to be sharing them in the next couple of days.
Below is a night shot of the tree in our living room, again.

May you have a joyous Christmas!!!

Ann

“Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace” Spanish Proverb

Linking up at these blog hops:

Thursday Favorite Things (Katherine's Corner)      
Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life  
All Things Thursday @ Glamorous Affordable Life
 Let's Be Friends Bloghop @ The Dwelling Tree   

Thumping Thursdays @ Mom in the USA   
Cottage Style Linky Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage 
 Simple and Sweet Fridays (Rooted in Thyme)     
Feathered Nest Friday(French Country Cottage) 
  Friendship Friday @ Create With Joy 
  Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home   
Be Inspired @ Common Ground
  Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm    
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life 
 The Clever Chick blog hop @ The Chicken Chick  
Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper  
Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch 
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Coastal Christmas Cottage Decor

Hi, Everyone!

Here we are, almost halfway through December and I am WAY behind in my holiday decorating. Lots of things happening here at Cairn Cottage and I've just not had time or motivation to get things done. I have several projects that are in progress and I hope to be sharing them soon. Till then, I've been finding all kinds of sweet "Coastal Christmas Cottage" decorating ideas.(Mostly from Pinterest) Thought I would share some of my favorites. 

For us, decorating the outside of the house can be just as fun and challenging as decorating the inside. I love red berries and would like to find a nice wreath like this to hang outside.

The wreath and starfish below also caught my eye, as well as the beachy garland around the door.         

 Love this display of berries, greenery, and oars.

Love this relaxing spot, with a touch of red.

Candle lanterns with sand, shells, and starfish...I would also add colored Christmas balls.

 Love this coastal themed Christmas wreath!
 
 A garland of shell/starfish are perfect for Christmas!
 
 Words are great to display at Christmas...add shells and it's got that beachy feel!

We are thinking about buying a small potted tree this year. It will fit better with our small living area in the cottage.(Plus, we can plant it in the ground, come spring.)

 Another potted tree. I also love the green hanging wreaths in the windows.
 


 Love this simple kitchen setting of red and white. 
 Decorating the bedroom can be simple, as well. Hanging a few stockings, displaying a tabletop tree, and adding holiday pillows and comforters are great ways to add Christmas cheer.
 
 Here is another nicely decorated bedroom.

 Beachy decor displayed on shelves and mantels are a perfect touch. A starfish wreath and shell tree add seasonal touches.

I love signs!! The ones below are cute ways to bring more fun to making beach/coastal decor festive.

 

And my favorite...

 

What kind of Christmas decor do you like the best?

Ann

“Better joy in a cottage than sorrow in a palace” Spanish Proverb

Linking up at these blog hops:

Thursday Favorite Things (Katherine's Corner)     

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life 
 Let's Be Friends Bloghop @ The Dwelling Tree 
Thumping Thursdays @ Mom in the USA 
Cottage Style Linky Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage 
 Simple and Sweet Fridays (Rooted in Thyme)     
Feathered Nest Friday(French Country Cottage) 
  Friendship Friday @ Create With Joy 
  Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home  

Be Inspired @ Common Ground
  Make the Scene Monday @ Alderberry Hill    
  Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm   

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life 
 The Clever Chick blog hop @ The Chicken Chick 

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper 

Met Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch 

A SAD DAY

IN MEMORY

Sophie Grace

Sept. 5, 2010 - December 6, 2013

It's been a rough week and now a sad day! Because of our family's great loss, I may not be posting on either of my blogs for awhile. But I wanted to share all the wonderful memories of our sweet little girl, Sophie.

I love this picture of Sophie, as a puppy, sitting on my son's shoulder.

A Boy and His Dog
Edgar Guest 
A boy and his dog make a glorious pair:
No better friendship is found anywhere,
For they talk and they walk and they run and they play,
And they have their deep secrets for many a day;
And that boy has a comrade who thinks and who feels,
Who walks down the road with a dog at his heels.
--------
He may go where he will and his dog will be there,
May revel in mud and his dog will not care;
Faithful he'll stay for the slightest command
And bark with delight at the touch of his hand;
Oh, he owns a treasure which nobody steals,
Who walks down the road with a dog at his heels.
--------
No other can lure him away from his side;
He's proof against riches and station and pride;
Fine dress does not charm him, and flattery's breath
Is lost on the dog, for he's faithful to death;
He sees the great soul which the body conceals--
Oh, it's great to be young with a dog at your heels! 

Always full of energy 

 

 

The many faces of Sophie....

"No animal I know of can consistently be more of a friend and companion than a dog."

    -Stanley Leinwoll

 "Thorns may hurt you, men desert you, sunlight turn to fog;
but you're never friendless ever, if you have a dog."
--Douglas Mallock

 “My ears are too beeg for my head. My head ees too beeg for my body. I am not a Siamese cat ... I AM A CHIHUAHUA!

 

"I can't think of anything that brings me closer to tears than when my old dog -- completely exhausted after a hard day in the field -- limps away from her nice spot in front of the fire and comes over to where I'm sitting and puts her head in my lap, a paw over my knee, and closes her eyes and goes back to sleep. I don't know what I've done to deserve that kind of friend."
-- Gene Hill

"No Matter how little money and how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich."

    -Louis Sabin

 "My little dog--a heartbeat at my feet. "
- Edith Wharton

Dressed up for Halloween

"Let's go for a walk, mom!!!"

"....sometimes I'll be the littlest kid with my dog and marvel at his ears and his nose and how he looks at me. If he died, I'd bawl like a baby." (I did) -- Aaron Eckhart
 

The dogs on an adventure.

Getting tired, after a long walk and adventure.

Time for a nap!

 

Bike rides are fun, too!!!

 

Dressed up in warm sweaters on a cold, snowy day!
Sophie's first experience with snow.

Big brother and little sis, best friends!

 

 

 

Christmas stocking!

Daddy's little girl!

 

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring -- it was peace. "
-- Milan Kundera

 "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself."
- Josh Billings

 

On vacation with us. Christmas, 2012 at Folly Beach, S.C.

 A family photo, Christmas, 2012

 "She was my friend, my partner, my defender, my dog. I was her life, her love, her leader. She was faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart. I was not worthy of such devotion."
- Unknown

 

 I NEVER KNEW!!!

(Why it is vital to spay your dog.)

 Uterine infection, called pyometra, is very common in female dogs. Pyometra is a life threatening disease. Because the uterus is a hollow organ, it fills with pus. Because the uterus lies in the abdomen and the abdomen is lower than the pelvis, the uterus does not readily drain. If not treated, pyometra progresses rapidly to septicemia (blood poisoning} and/or kidney failure.
The best treatment for pyometra is always spaying, removing the infected uterus. And of course spaying the healthy dog is the way to prevent uterine infection.(There are also other physical problems that can be avoided by spaying your dog.)

 (Source)

This is what my Sophie died of....she went from sweet and healthy to sick in less than a week and died within hours of being taken to the vet. We only had her for 3 short years. If I had been told about this serious disease when she was healthy, I would have had her spayed as soon as possible. Every female dog of all breeds can get this!!! Spay your dog!!!